Look for the flower-toting ladies this week.

Anne Graham and other American Legion Post 24 Auxiliary ladies trade handmade red-crepe poppy flowers this week for donations that help transport veterans to the VA hospital “or wherever they need to go,” says Graham.

Sixty percent of the money goes back to the Graham’s local auxiliary unit, and the group sends the other 40 percent of the flowers’ money to the Columbia American Legion Auxiliary.

Graham, the unit membership chairman, is visiting downtown stores for donations this week before joining with other ladies at grocery stores Wal-Mart, Wilson Road Food Lion and Bi-Lo Friday and Saturday.

The 1,000 poppies they hold this year were handmade by veterans in Florida, she says.

And even though Graham, 83, is battling an arthritic foot and the trek gets tiring, she’s devoted to the work.

“I think it’s getting close to around 20 years,” says Graham of her poppy years. “Well, we go out so we have something to support the disabled veterans.”

Trading a poppy flower for money to help veterans stems from the goodwill of “Poppy Lady” Moina Belle Michael who in 1918, asked businessmen to wear the flower to honor soldiers killed in war.

The red flower now symbolizes American soldiers’ shed blood. They are distributed annually around Memorial Day.